Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink gets used to his new surroundings at QPR.
Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Kick It Out has criticised the Port Vale owner Norman Smurthwaite for the “outrageous” decision to overlook Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink as manager over fears the decision to appoint him would lead to racist abuse from the club’s own supporters.

Port Vale were given a warning by the Football Association in 2013 following an investigation into racist chanting in a home match with Bradford and Smurthwaite did not take Hasselbaink “because of the racial issue the club had got”.

“I didn’t think it was fair on him,” he told The Sentinel. “Can you imagine the poor bloke getting abuse, along with the normal abuse if results were going against him?

“He would have been right for the club without doubt but I don’t think the club would have been right for him. Ninety-nine per cent of our fans are excellent but a small minority leave us with policing and other issues.”

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink takes first training session as QPR manager

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They are comments that have been criticised by football’s anti-discrimination campaign Kick It Out and its chairman Lord Herman Ouseley.

“This is outrageous that we have an owner admitting he wanted to protect a manager because of the possibility of abuse, he has discriminated against Hasselbaink and denied him the opportunity of being Port Vale manager,” he said in a statement.

“If there’s a problem then it needs to be addressed and tackled. If education is needed then let’s do something about it.

“It is a sad day for Port Vale Football Club in 2015 when a football club owner admits this. Are black managers not capable of protecting themselves? The main criteria should be the best person for the job. Owners and decision makers at football clubs have a duty of care to appoint the best candidate.”